Renowned ethnomusicologist, Professor John Collins, recently shed light on why many contemporary Ghanaian musicians are moving away from being associated with the highlife genre.
In an interview with Winston Amoah on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Collins, known for his work in documenting Ghanaian music in books such as “Highlife Time,” explained that it is natural for a younger generation of artists to distance themselves from older artistic styles.
Collins emphasized that highlife music has evolved over the years, and while modern Ghanaian songs may still carry elements of highlife, the youth prefer to label it differently.
He pointed out that cultural change is often driven by the youth, who inherit traditions from their ancestors but present them in new and innovative ways.
Drawing parallels to the evolution of Nigerian music, Collins noted that the introduction of Afrobeats in 2012 led to a similar debate among musicians.
As a music professor at the University of Ghana, Collins recounted a story from Felabration in Nigeria where there was confusion between younger and older musicians regarding the introduction of Afrobeats, which some saw as a departure from Fela’s Afrobeat. He highlighted the youth’s right to rename and reinterpret cultural traditions, noting that language and culture are constantly evolving.
Highlife music, which gained its name in the 1920s, has deep roots in Ghanaian music history, influenced by early musicians like Jacob Sam and the Kumasi Trio. Despite facing challenges and adaptations over time, some Ghanaians lament the waning popularity of the genre and its neglect by younger artists. The Ghana Culture Forum has advocated for UNESCO to recognize highlife as an intangible heritage, underscoring its cultural significance.
Collins affirmed that while the term “highlife” may no longer be in vogue, the essence of highlife music remains ingrained in the Ghanaian musical identity.
Cultural change, driven by the dynamism of the youth, ensures that traditional art forms are continually rejuvenated and reimagined for future generations.
